Trials Today

Hearing aids can improve hearing, communication, and overall quality of life for people with hearing loss. However, not many people use hearing aids. A common reason is that hearing aids are expensive and hard to get. The traditional way to get hearing aids involves multiple visits to licensed audiologists for identifying hearing loss, customizing the aids, and ongoing maintenance. This traditional method is called the AUD pathway. Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids offer a different approach. They aim to make hearing aids more affordable and accessible, encouraging earlier use. In the OTC pathway, users diagnose their own hearing loss and fit and program the hearing aids themselves. Little is known about long-term effects of OTC hearing aids on users. This study aims to compare the experiences of people who choose the OTC pathway with those who choose the AUD pathway. It takes place in two locations: Iowa City, IA, and Nashville, TN. Participants, who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, choose their preferred pathway and are followed for 12 months. In the OTC pathway, participants buy their hearing aids directly from OTC companies or retailers. In the AUD pathway, prescription hearing aids and fitting services are provided by audiology clinics at the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Participants are contacted 1, 6, and 12 months after starting to use their hearing aids. Researchers measure their satisfaction about hearing aids and other outcomes. If participants stop using their hearing aids, researchers assess their engagement with post-amplification hearing care. The results from both pathways are then compared.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

This study evaluates the effects of probiotic consumption on inflammatory outcomes and measures of gut health. Participants will be given yogurt with probiotics for one period and yogurt without probiotics for another, with a break in between. These periods will occur in random order.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2018

open study

A single subanesthetic dose infusion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid and robust antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-refractory major depressive disorder (TRD). A family history of an alcohol use disorder (Family History Positive, FHP) is one of the strongest identified predictors of an improved antidepressant response to ketamine. Like ketamine, alcohol is a functional NMDA receptor antagonist. FHP is associated with differential response to ketamine, e.g. blunted psychotomimetic side effects. One of the primary mechanistic hypotheses for ketamine's antidepressant action is the acute intrasynaptic release of glutamate from major output neurons, e.g. cortical pyramidal cells. Preliminary clinical studies have demonstrated this acute glutamate "surge" in response to subanesthetic dose ketamine. Based on these findings, the investigators hypothesize that ketamine's enhanced antidepressant efficacy in FHP TRD subjects is, at least in part, attributable to increased glutamate release relative to TRD subjects without a family history of alcohol use disorder (Family History Negative, FHN). To test this hypothesis, the investigators have designed a now two-site, open-label study of 18-55-year-old medically and neurologically healthy, currently moderately-to-severely depressed TRD patients. In total, the investigators plan to recruit 25 FHP and 25 FHN TRD subjects. All subjects must not have a current substance use disorder (except nicotine or caffeine). The experimental portion consists of two phases. The preliminary first phase is a medication taper (if needed) and psychotropic medication-free period. The experimental second phase comprises one subanesthetic dose (0.5mg/kg x 40 minute) ketamine infusion. The ketamine infusion will occur during 7T-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to detect glutamate in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex/ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vmPFC/vACC). The primary outcome measure is group mean change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from pre-ketamine infusion (baseline) to one-week post-infusion, where the investigators observed ketamine's greatest antidepressant effect in FHP TRD. Additional outcome measures are vmPFC/vACC glutamate change in response to ketamine based on family history status. In summary, this study will provide key mechanistic information on ketamine's improved antidepressant efficacy in a biologically-enriched subgroup. This will contribute to the systematic development of more efficacious, personalized treatments for major depression in an effort to reduce its enormous public health burden.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2014

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to see if the enhanced HMZ 2.0 intervention with new control system/digital platform to regulate gestational weight gain (GWG) and impact maternal-infant outcomes while collecting implementation data works and can be given to other pregnant women in various settings. The question this study aims to answer are: 1. Does the new intervention manage GWG? 2. Does the new intervention have any influence on sleep and eating behaviors and infant outcomes. 3. Does the new platform and other data collected help inform how well the research and information can be used in health care settings? 144 pregnant women with overweight/obesity will be randomized to either the HMZ 2.0 intervention or attention control groups from ~8-36 weeks gestation. All participants will be asked to: 1. Weight themselves and wear an activity monitor each day over the study. 2. Complete online surveys at either a weekly or monthly level about their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors on GWG, physical activity, eating behaviors, sleep, their anxiety, depression, and stress. 3. Attend weekly sessions with a registered dietician. The weekly sessions will differ based on intervention group. The HMZ 2.0 intervention group will receive education, create and follow goal-setting and action plans, self-monitor their behaviors, and receive feature evidence and fetal growth facts. Education, goals, and self-monitoring will focus on GWG, physical activity, eating behaviors, sleep, self-regulating behaviors and emotions, and preparing for labor/delivery and postpartum. The attention control group will receive weekly sessions on preparing for labor/delivery and benefits of behavioral pain management strategies (e.g., mindfulness-based relaxation, imagery, music, massage, deep-breathing) to help with pain after childbirth without medicine.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

In the current study, the investigators aim to understand the role of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in improving executive function across neuropsychiatric populations known to have deficits in this cognitive domain.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2014

open study

This study will determine whether electrical stimulation of an area of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is important in determining the feeling of fullness after eating, affects how much food a person eats and weight loss over 4 weeks. It will also compare weight changes in people who attend weight loss counseling sessions and those who do not over this period of time. Obese, non-diabetic people between 18 and 60 years of age who are in good health and who live in the Phoenix, AZ, metropolitan area are eligible for this study. Candidates must have a body mass index of 35 kg/m(2) or more and weigh less than 350 pounds. Participants are admitted to the NIH inpatient unit in Phoenix for the first 9 days of the study for tests, which include meal tests to determine eating behaviors and caloric intake, blood and urine tests, glucose tolerance test, weight measurement, psychological assessments and DEXA scan to measure body fat. For 3 of the days, they will be asked to eat all of their food from automated vending machines. Some subjects receive transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). For this procedure, electrodes that conduct electricity are placed on the head and arm and the current is turned on for 40 minutes. Some tingling may be felt under the electrodes. Other subjects receive sham TDCS, with the current turned on only very briefly. After the evaluations, subjects are discharged home from the NIH unit and instructed to eat 25 percent fewer calories than they consumed while on a weight maintenance diet the first 3 days of their inpatient stay. They maintain the lower calorie diet at home for 4 weeks. During this period they come to the NIH unit 3 days a week to receive either real or sham TDCS. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2009

open study

This research study is investigating whether people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience more changes to swallowing than their healthy age-matched peers. The prevalence of swallowing impairments in moderate-severe AD is high (85-93%), yet little is known about how swallow function evolves throughout the disease course in people with AD. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate swallowing function in adults with and without Alzheimer's disease. The investigator will also be involving the primary caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's that are enrolled in the study to better understand the impact of swallowing impairments on the primary caregivers of those with Alzheimer's Disease. Healthy adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease will: - undergo tests of cough and swallow function - undergo tests of grip and tongue strength - complete questionnaires Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease will also complete questionnaires.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

The goal of this observational study is to learn more about how genes impact the risk of kidney disease. Anyone 18 or older living in the US is eligible, and a diagnosis of kidney disease is NOT required. Study participation is online, and it takes about 20 minutes to complete health surveys and request a saliva collection kit sent through US mail. In return, study participants may opt to receive information about their genetic ancestry at no cost.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2026

open study

The goal of this observational study is to learn more about how genes impact the risk of pulmonary hypertension. Anyone 18 or older living in the US is eligible, and a diagnosis of PH is NOT required. Study participation is online, and it takes about 20 minutes to complete health surveys and request a saliva collection kit sent through US mail. In return, study participants may opt to receive information about their genetic ancestry at no cost.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

Sleep disturbance is a common condition following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and impairs recovery and quality of life. While efficacious interventions exist many are not accessible to all patients due to a variety of factors (e.g., rurality, access to providers). Further, many of the available treatments have not been validated for individuals with moderate/severe TBI. The proposed study will evaluate a guided computerized version of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (cCBT-I) against enhanced treatment as usual (ETU) in individuals with moderate/severe TBI.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

The goal of this observational study is to learn more about how genes impact the risk of breast cancer. Anyone 18 or older living in the US is eligible, and a diagnosis of cancer is NOT required. Study participation is online, and it takes about 20 minutes to complete health surveys and request a saliva collection kit sent through US mail. In return, study participants may opt to receive information about their genetic ancestry at no cost.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2024

open study

The PLANET Study aims to determine the impact of microplastics on intestinal inflammation and gut microbiome in order to understand the role of this pollutant on the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as other diseases. With this information, the researchers hope to characterize better the role of environmental pollutants on IBD and develop novel strategies towards prevention.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2023

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of VX-147 in adult and pediatric participants with apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1)-mediated proteinuric kidney disease.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in quality of life and degree of tremor for patients with essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor who are treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This is a questionnaire-based study. Please see Detailed Description below for more information.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2013

open study

The aim of this study is to characterize the microbiome and assess fatigue and cognition of patients with cancer undergoing standard of care treatment.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immune response of the killed flu vaccine in healthy subjects. Participants in this study are considered to be healthy volunteers. Influenza ("Flu") infection carries a risk of serious illness. This is an open label and single arm observational study designed to assess the humoral response to influenza vaccination and the longevity of humoral immunity to influenza vaccination in healthy adults. Enrolled subjects will receive licensed seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (administered as a part of the study). Participants will donate serial samples of blood and bone marrow aspirate for immunology monitoring. Repeated measurements of humoral immunity will be obtained at 7 days, 28 days, 90 days and at one year post vaccination to assess the magnitude, clonal diversity and persistence of B-cell responses to influenza vaccination.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2023

open study

The purpose of this innovative adaptive phase II trial design is to determine the optimal combination of hyperbaric oxygen treatment parameters that is most likely to demonstrate improvement in the outcome of severe TBI patients in a subsequent phase III trial.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2018

open study

The purpose of this study is to develop and test two brief online writing interventions to improve parental acceptance of sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) in the Southeast United States.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

Background: Respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year and around the globe. Wearable and sensor devices, like smartwatches, may be able to help monitor infectious diseases. Researchers want to use them to learn how respiratory viruses affect people in different ways. Objective: To use digital devices to collect data from participants in challenge studies that could indicate subtle changes in health during an infection that might otherwise go unnoticed. Eligibility: Healthy adults who have enrolled, were recently enrolled, or are scheduled to enroll in a challenge study. Design: Participants will stay at NIH for the duration of the challenge study (at least 9 days) and then will have outpatient follow-up visits (2-4). While at NIH, participants will wear a smartwatch at all times. It will record data like temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and movements. Participants will have a smartphone that records at all times to listen for coughing and changes in voice. Participants will perform tasks every 4 hours during the daytime. They will record themselves coughing, breathing in deeply, and reading aloud. They will take videos of their face. They will play a game to test their reflexes and focus. They will measure their head temperature with their smartwatch. For outpatient visits, participants will use one smartphone and the smartwatch to complete the above tasks. Participants will be sent a smartwatch to wear at home at night to collect additional healthy data. Participation will last the duration of each challenge study, and may range from 10 weeks to 2 years.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2023

open study

Background: - Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin disorder. Patients sometimes have infections with S. aureus bacteria. Researchers want to study how eczema treatments affect the number and the type of bacteria on the skin. Objectives: - To study the effect of eczema treatments on skin bacteria. Eligibility: - Individuals between 2 and 25 years of age who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. - Healthy volunteers between 18 and 40 years of age with no history of eczema. Design: - Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Research samples will be collected. Skin biopsies may also be performed. - All participants will be assigned to one of several study groups. - Healthy volunteers must not have taken antibiotics in the year before the start of the study. - All participants will have regular study visits during their 1-year participation. More research samples will be collected at these visits. - Healthy volunteers may be asked to come in for a one-time follow up after the 1 year mark.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2012

open study

This is a first-in-human, single-arm, open-label study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of ALLO-329 in adults with autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without renal involvement, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), and systemic sclerosis (SSc).The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ALLO-329, an allogeneic anti-CD19, anti-CD70 dual chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, in adults with autoimmune disorders, provide initial evidence of biological activity and clinical response to the treatment and determine the recommended Phase 2 regimen (RP2R).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety of avacopan in participants with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to see if the sleep aid, lemborexant, can decrease the amount of amyloid-beta and tau in the blood. Amyloid-beta and tau are proteins involved in the disease process leading to Alzheimer's disease.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and efficacy of BHV-3000 versus placebo in the acute treatment of moderate or severe migraine in children and adolescents.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2021

open study

The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of a cellphone app and a driving mode intervention on driving behavior in drivers aged 18-24 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study